Rail-joint.



E. MAY.

' RAIL JOINT. I APPLIOATION FILED 11:3.4; 190a.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

EUSTAOE MAY, OF SI-IRYOCK, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Sept. 29, 1908.

Application filed. February 4, 1908. Serial No. 414,238.

the object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhereby the meeting ends of rails are eflectively and securely re tainedin position in relation to :each other.

With these objects in view the invention resides in providing themeeting ends of a pair of rails with projecting tongues adapted forengagement with a hollow splicebar having recesses adapted forengagement with the tongues of the rails, the splice bar being providedwith flanges adapted to engage the base flanges of the rails, andwhereby the splice bar may beeffectively retained in position upon therails by suitable spikes inserted within the ties of the rail andengaging the flange of the splice bar. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the contiguous ends of apair of rails constructed in accordance with my invention and joinedtogether by my'improved splice bar. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ,of thesame. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view upon the line 33 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 -'is a transverse sectional view upon the line 44 of Fig.1.

In the accompanying drawings the numerals 1 and 2 designate the meetingends of a pair of rails. The body of the rails employed with the presentinvention is of the usual construction, having a head 3yweb 4 and baseflanges 5. The head 8 of the rails is cut away at a suitable pointadjacent the end of the rails, in a longitudinal line with the sides ofthe web. The vertical projecting portion thus formed, is cuthorizontally to provide a series of fingers 6, and the horizontal cut iscontinued beyond the transverse abutting edges 7 of the rail head, asuitable distance and formed with the transverse vertical wall 8. I

' The splice bar employed in connection with my invention comprises abody 9, having its top'face of a size corresponding with that of thehead of the rail. The body 9 is provided upon each of its sides withflanges 10, having downturned lips or extremities 1 1. The body of the slice is rovided with a central 1ongitudinal channel 12, of a size apandheight of the web of the rail.

proximately equaling that of the thickness The upper Wall of the channel12 is provided with a series of openings 13, communicating with the topof the splice bar, and adapted for the reception of the tongue 6 formedupon the rails. The flanges 10 of the splice bar are adapted to overliethe base flanges of the rails, and to securely retain the splice andrails in position with each other by suitable spikes 14 being insertedwithin the ties of the rail and engaging the ends or edges of theflange'of the splice. The splice bar is provided with a projecting lip15 upon each of its ends, and these lips are adapted to lie upon thehorizontal cut away portion of the rail head adjacent the vertical wall8.

From theabove description it will be seen that I jhave provided asimple, cheap and effective device for connecting the meeting ends ofrails, one which is easily constructed and while allowing for expansionand contraction of the rails will perform the function for which it isintended with certainty.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A rail joint comprising a tie bar having a passage provided withcentrally arranged longitudinally extending pockets, and the meetingends of a pair of rails having fingers upon their webs ada 'ted forengagement {)Vith the passage and t e openings of the tie 2. A railjoint comprising a tie bar having a centrally arranged longitudinalpassage provided with a series of pockets arranged between the top wallof the passage and the top of the tie bar, flanges u on the tie barextending outwardly from t e walls of the passa e, and the meeting endsof a pair of rails avin a portion of their heads cut away and tlleirwebs provided with fingers, the webs adapted for engagement with thepassage of the tie bar and the fingers adapted for enga ement with thepockets of the tie bar, the flanges of the tie bar adapted forengagement with the flanges of the rails, and retaining elements adaptedto contact the flanges of the tie bar to retain the tie bar and railends in engagement with each other.

3. A rail joint comprisinga tie bar having a central lon itudinalpassage and a series of openings wit in the top wall of the passage.

and flanges extending from the walls of the passage, lips projectingbeyond the ends of the tie bar, and the meeting ends of a pair of railshaving their heads cut away a suit- I s lice bar adapted to engage theflanges of able distance and their Webs provided with the rails and tobe held in secure position fingers, the heads also provided with ahorithereon by suitable retaining elements. zontal cut away portionhaving a Vertical In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature 5 Walli thewebsbadaptfid go engage tlie recekss in presence of two witnesses.

of tie splice ar, t e in ers 0 tie We s a 7 7 adapted to engage the operiings in the splice EUSIAOIL MAL bar, the projecting lips of the splicebar Witnesses: adapted to engage the cut away portions of SUSAN PERRY,10 the heads of the rails, and the flanges of the ANNIE SELDOMRIDGE.

